Wrap swelling

PS I should say from the Nissen Fundoplication surgery.

I never heard of this.  sorry!

I am just past my first week after my Nissen Fundoplication surgery. So far I'm doing good. Just not sure why everyone is warning me that it's going to get worse.

Good for you!  The best of health....Dear God, I wish I had that now.  Talk to us about the procedure, what type of doctor did this, a gastroenterologist?  How long was operation...procedure...please..

Originally I was referred to a Thoracic Surgeon. (My Gastroenterologist at the time said since the surgery was basically in the 'middle' I could see a Thoracic or Abdominal Surgeon.) I chose Thoracic because I have asthma and with the hiatal hernia repair as well I thought it would be a good fit. Let's just say after my apt with him I was so upset for over a week I couldn't think straight! I went back to my GI Dr told him what happened and he then referred me to a General Surgeon but one who specializes in stomach surgery. Since the Fundopilication is done at the top portion of the stomach and she did a lot of lap-bands, gastro bypass etc. he thought her expertise would work. I was so happy with her. Wonderful doctor! I believe the repair and fundoplication surgery took about 3 hours. (She had said 2-4 originally.) I was discharged from the hospital in about 36 hours.

Hi,

I'm not sure where you have seen these comments and on occasion, looking too much at some of the comments online isn't too healthy in my view, especially as I have already spoken about stress as an integral factor in GERD.

The surgeon my wife went to was very experienced but he explained that the Nissen is not something he did by choice as sometimes it caused other complications. After dealing with many specialists over the years, it's my view that clearly, surgery of any nature is a last resort. Everyone reacts differently to invasive procedures and this is surely why you obtain various views of ailments from people who have had the same surgery?

My wife's initial surgery was made too tight so even runny food caused problems. Our surgeon couldn't emphasise enough not too eat lumpy food. So much so that I bought a blender just for the 6 week period after the Op. I try to think about it like this;

If you had a 1" plastic pipe with a link in it, you could put runny food down one end and eventually it would come out the other end. If you try to force bread or large pieces of meat or spongy foods down the same pipe, then I imagine some blockage would occur. The principle is the same for the Nissen in my view, although I'm not medically qualified.

My advice based on experience is try not to stress, certainly come away from these types of forums for a while, eat little and often, chewing your food totally before swallowing, (which is something we should all do more of), and of course, listen to the doctors, surgeons guidance.

Good luck.